Center for Lost Runaway and Kidnapped Children (Nigheban)

Nigheban is an institution established by the SW Department for children who separated from their parents due to some incidence and they can’t reach back home. The lost children roam in the cities and other parts and if fortunately they are taken to the police stations they are sent back to their parents. In other cases these children remain stranded and some of them are addicted by anti-social elements who train them for their unlawful motives. The innocent children grow up into criminals and thus, pose a problem to society. Some children fall victim to such persons who put them to forced labor. The main objective behind the establishment of these institutes is to save the unfortunate lost or kidnapped or forced labored children. Today there are 8 Nigheban centers for Lost and Kidnapped children working in divisional headquarters of Punjab (Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi and Sargodha).

Eligibility Criteria

Lost, runaway, kidnapped forced labored children are admitted in these institutions.

Admission Procedure

There are no hard and fast rules for admission. The lost, runaway and kidnapped children referred by court, NGO, government, semi-government institution or by an individual are admitted in these homes.

Facilities

The Nigheban Centers serve as a reporting and contact center for lost children and direct liaison with police stations and other line departments so that the lost children would be brought to the Centre and given back to their families. In Nigheban Centre children stay there for a short time till their rehabilitation. During their stay, children are provided meals and recreational facilities. Children are rehabilitated through their parents and relatives. If the children are orphans then they are sent to Orphanage Homes. Counseling services to children and their families are also provided.